How OPAL’s Nuclear Work Powers Everyday Australian Life

OPAL, Australia’s only nuclear reactor, began operating in 2006 at ANSTO’s Lucas Heights site. It is a 20‑megawatt light‑water reactor that uses low‑enriched uranium‑235 fuel.

The reactor produces the isotopes that clinicians need for nuclear‑medicine scans and treatments. ANSTO CEO Shaun Jenkinson explained, "In nuclear medicine, what they're doing is diagnosing, staging and treating diseases like cancer." He added, "Our clinicians require isotopes to do that, and those isotopes are made at ANSTO."

OPAL also irradiates pure silicon ingots, converting some silicon atoms to phosphorus. The treated crystals are then shipped to manufacturers of high‑voltage equipment such as fast trains, electric vehicles, air‑conditioning systems, hospital devices and power‑grid components. "Those silicon crystals are then processed, and they end up in devices that affect our everyday life," Mr Jenkinson said, noting that ANSTO serves more than half the global market for this specialised silicon.

Next door, the Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering uses neutrons from OPAL to examine battery crystals and rail materials. Senior instrument scientist Kirrily Rule said, "We've been able to look at the crystal structure and how it changes in the charge and discharge of batteries." She also explained, "We have an engineering beam line we use for industrial purposes," and described a partnership with Sydney Trains: "We have a relationship with Sydney Trains, and we look at how their rails change their structure or positions, particularly if we have a cold frost or hot day. We bring parts of Sydney's rail here, have a look at them and advise better ways to maintain the rail network so people can get to work in the morning."

Because of OPAL, Australians benefit from life‑saving cancer diagnostics, reliable high‑voltage electronics in transport and homes, longer‑lasting batteries for electric cars, and safer, better‑maintained rail services.

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